Maintain The Heritage Image When Developing Taiping

The abundant Heritage locations of Taiping. (right pix) Taiping's New Club, established since 1885 overlooks the Taiping Esplanade, established 1890, and used for official functions till now.

Taiping has great potential for development especially in the promotion of tourism. One of its iconic characteristics is its image of Heritage.

Taiping is well known as the town with many firsts, as many as 50, such as the railway, museum, prison, hill resort and lake garden all of which are over one hundred years old.

'Taiping's development should evolve around the heritage theme' Zambry at Taiping. (right pix, 4th from left) planting a rain tree. 

“As such any development to the town should evolve around that theme of a heritage environment” said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir at the start of his five day resettlement visit program to Bukit Gantang and Taiping which began on November 23.

He gave the example of an upcoming four star hotel in Taiping where he encouraged that the design of the hotel blend with the heritage image of Taiping.

Taiping's heritage buildings  (above) The Officers Mess and (below) All Saints church.

“It would be beneficial if the related agencies were to engage with the developer to ensure the design of the hotel will adopt the characteristic of Taiping’s old buildings so as to maintain the image of the area”

Another of Taiping’s strengths was the Lake Garden where the state together with the federal government and Taiping Municipal Council would develop a Botanical Garden.

“Work on the garden has started. It will be of international standard and would be planted flowers and herbs and would improve the value of the Lake Garden.

(top pix) The Lake Garden will have an international standard Botanical Garden added. Four generations of family and relatives of Yeoh Koon Joo (above, back row, stripe T-shirt) from Malacca love the Lake Garden.

“The government has allocated RM50 million for the project and it will be built in phases”.

Another Taiping heritage product mentioned was Bukut Larut (Maxwell Hill).

“Bukit Larut has always been an attraction for Taiping. However the hill resort can accommodate a maximum of 500 visitors at a time so this is an issue we need to look into.

“The NCIA (Northern Corridor Implementation Authority) is participating in Bukit Larut. Upgrading work at a cost of RM200,000 will include the steps, street lighting and billboards along three kilometers around the hill resort”

Regarding the cable car project to Bukit Larut Zambry responded that discussions are still ongoing.

JAG 

'Free Maria' Vigil. November 24

The ‘Free Maria Vigil’ gathering held at Dataran KTMB Ipoh started on schedule on Thursday night November 24.

Between 9 to 10 pm individuals came and lit a candle and joined in the group photos with some giving speeches

Last night’s vigil had several motorist honk as they passed the square supposedly in solidarity  with the vigil.

Participants at the gathering said they would be meeting at the Railway square at 9pm until Maria is released. 

JAG 

‘Bebaskan Maria’ Gathering In Ipoh

A small group of individuals gathered peacefully at Dataran  KTMB last night to demand for the release of Bersih5 organiser Maria Chin Abdullah.

A few lit candles and carried posters with “Bebaskan Maria” written on it.

“She is a woman, 60 years old and in solitary confinement and we want her released”

The group will meet every night at 9pm until Maria Chin is released. 

AEON Kinta City Just Opened A Non Halal Food Court

Kinta Street@AEON Kinta City 

AEON Kinta City today opened their non halal food court named Kinta Street and they even served beer.

The new food court is directly opposite the existing ‘ARENA Restoran’ food court.

A walk around indicated the stalls served roast duck, Bak Kut Teh and nyonya food. When I enquired with the proprietors they acknowledged that the food served was not halal.

Kopi-tiam ambiance and non halal

Additionally their drinks counter served beer, something that had been missing from shopping malls, well since shopping malls first started.

I sampled two dishes, the vinegar pork leg and a steamy mini-pot item and the taste was above decent while the cost was slightly above the normal coffee shop cost.

A nice place for friends to get together for a refreshing brew and a meal.

The outlet was furnished with the typical kopi-tiam decoration and had the nice local ambiance of the place.

I rarely frequent food courts found in malls but with this new outlet I plan to return again probably for a refreshing brew and a meal before taking in a movie.

This is definitely a positive change.

JAG  

Wholesome ‘Michelle’s Noodles’ For Breakfast.

Regular customer Ong giving Michelle Chai of 'Michelle's Noodles' the thumbs up.

A steaming hot bowl of noodles for breakfast is always a refreshing way to kick start anyone’s day.

However on some mornings when you want an additional booster breakfast but don’t want to have more than one item on the menu  you should consider a bowl of Michelle’s Noodles at Ipoh Garden East.

Yummy noodles of seafood, mince pork or pork offals

Noodles it may be but the alluring attraction of Michelle’s Noodles is her rich soup stock combined with the minced pork with the slightly extra portion of noodles which is perfect for me.

Her stall does not serve the bowl with the usual fishball liew and such. It is just delicious and rich textured soup with minced pork, pork offals and seafood.

For the portion sized bowl and quality of the serving her prices are very reasonable and above all else totally satisfying.

Have a seat, give your order and take a number. 

Michelle’s Noodles stall is located at Restaurant Tuck Koh, 26, Laluan Perajurit 1, Ipoh Garden East, Ipoh. Contact Michelle Chai: 016 501 3639

JAG 

Kinta Nature Park To Receive RM300K For Upgrade.

Kinta Nature Park in 2010

Lonely Planet that just nominated Perak as the 9^th of top 10 regions in the world to visit in 2017 has done bird lovers a big favour when it featured Kinta Nature Park as one in the list of must visit locations in Perak. 

For sure travellers around the world who read the report will want to make a beeline for the park.

However visitors will be shocked as the park and its once trimmed garden is currently overgrown with jungle and weeds while its facilities vandalized and in need of major repair.

Kinta Nature Park November 2016

Then (the view from the watch tower) looking down on Lake Pucung and the island where the herons and egrets congregate.

...and now overgrown with thick secondary jungle 

Then, the footpath from the toilet and hall....

...and now

Nevertheless remedial work has started and an action plan initiated for visitors to comfortably appreciate the park.

State Tourism Director Datuk Nolee when contacted of the sad condition at the park said that the local government had allocated RM300,000.00 to upgrade the park.

“Upgrading work started towards the end of October.

Then, the neat and tidy courtyard and hall....

...and now.

“The works include the upgrade to the existing infrastructures such as the office, camp site, small hall, wakaf and the toilet.

“The cost will also include the access road to the site so that visitors reach the park with ease and enjoy the location and that all works must be completed by December 15” said Nolee.

In Lonely Planet’s report “Adventures in Perak: outdoor thrills and spills in the heart of Malaysia” writer Anita Isalksa described the park located 20km south of Ipoh as a former tin-mining land of low hanging trees and teeming fish ponds that is home to 130 species of birds and the region’s largest gathering place for herons and egrets.

130 species of birds have been identified at the park. (inset) Otters in the lake. Pictures are from 'Save Kinta Nature Park Fb with permission from Mr Jek Yap.

The current scenario is a far cry from when groups of bird waters and nature enthusiasts would spend the day walking around the park and studying the flora and fauna of the area or students camping overnight.

Kinta Nature Park is currently under the responsibility of the Perak State Park Corporation.

The Corporation’s Acting Director Noor Asmah Mohd Nawawi said the Park was gazetted early in 2016 after which it took over the responsibility from the Kampar District Office.

“Our immediate role is to get the park ready for Visit Perak Year 2017 and we are working with Tourism Perak and the Kampar District Office towards this.  

Aerial view of Kinta Nature Park.

“The park had been vandalized when we took over this year so we need to upgrade it properly.

“Once the Park has been restored we will station our staff and rangers there to maintain as well as to promote the park.

“Just as at Belum we will identify the types and species of birds and promote it for public interest” said Noor.

Asmah added that there are two access roads leading to the park. 

The access road via Kota Baru is being done and we are requesting for a budget for the road via Batu Gajah.

Kinta Nature Park came about after the end of mining operation in the area in the mid 1980’s.

The mining operations left behind a wetland of disused mining ponds and secondary jungle which attracted more than 130 species of birds.

At one of the cluster of ponds, a 41ha wide Lake Pucung, is an island that had attracted five families of egrets and herons and made it their permanent home.

In 1998 the Malayan nature Society (MNS) proposed that the area with almost 60 percent of the birds being totally protected or  protected under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1976, be set aside as a nature park.

With approval from the state government, the Kinta Nature Park (KNP) with an initial area of 900 hectares and an expenditure of RM625,000 for a viewing tower, toilets and rest hut, came into being in 2001.

KNP was gazzetted a nature park this year but with a reduced area of 396 hectares.

The island on Lake Pucung. Pix taken in 2010

Above (2011) bird watchers and nature enthusiast enjoying the beauty at the park.

Ardent bird watcher Jek Yap who took Lonely Planet writer to the park, said the park began to deteriorate after 2012 suspecting that it was due to the lack funds required for the regular maintenance. 

Foreign students camping out at the park. 

“I introduced the writer to the park over three years ago. Since that time the park has become rundown and the bird population has probably dwindled 20% due to the gradual depletion of food for the birds caused by the nearby farms and rampant fishing by anglers.

“Hopefully with the presence of the State Park Corporation the park will be maintained accordingly and allow the bird population especially at the island at Lake Pucong to improve again“

"hopefully with the presence of the State Park Corporation the park will be maintained accordingly' Jek Yap. (File pics taken in 2010 / 2011)

Without a doubt Lonely Planets highlighting of the Kinta Nature Park will enable more Malaysians 
and visitors from around the world to appreciate this wonderful natural habitat so close in our midst as another thrilling adventure that Perak has to offer.

JAG

KOHIJAU-ICycle Recycle System launched at Kuala Sepetang - 200 Residents Sign Up.

KOHIJAU-ICycle Recycle Bin is now in Kuala Sepetang

KOHIJAU-ICycle who launched their Recycle System at Kuala Sepetang this morning with the installation of their recycle bin got off to a strong start with 200 residents signing up with the system.

'Recycle'....(5th from left) Dr Richard Ng, Chua (in blue) followed by Dr Tan Ching Seong. 

The launch was officiated by Kuala Sepetang Assemblywoman Chua Yee Ling together with KOHIJAU Chairman Dr Richard Ng and ICycle Director Dr Tan Ching Seong.

Chua when contacted described the recycle system as a good peer reward system that encourages the recycling of domestic waste.

Under the system residents will earn Recycle points which can be ex-changed with cash or products similar to the Bonus Link system.

“Talking about recycling is a big challenge in Kuala Sepetang fishing village. We have 800 households and a population of 3000.

'Creating awareness' , Dr Tan explaining about a demonstration and a booklet about recycling.

“It will take some time for the residents to participate in recycling. Hopefully with the launch today we have kickstarted and will be able to create the awareness to sustain a recycling system”

Chua added that the effort to create awareness as continuous.

“We started trying to recruit members since August. While we are happy that 200 of them have registered to participate in this system we are still looking for more members.

“Similarly we are happy that KOHIJAU has supported us with their recycle bin though we will need a few more going forward” said Chua.

Continuous awareness since August results in recruiting 200 members 

KOHIJAU Chairman Ng said the residents were generally positive of their recycle system which rewards contributors with points which can be ex-changed with cash or products similar to the Bonus Link system.

To participate in the program residents have to register with ICycle to receive an account number and barcode stickers.

Residents will pack their recyclables in plastic bags, place their barcode sticker on the bag and dispose the bag at the ICycle recycle bin.

ICycle will collect the recyclables and credit the points to their personal account which can be checked online.

JAG 

O’Days ….Make My Day

Having a basic meal can be difficult in Ipoh because there is so much variety available.

A light lunch meal with a delicious nyonya desert for a satisfying ending

This could be at the Big Tree (Tai See Keok) noodles and liew at Pasir Pinji or a fresh Chapati with Mint gravy at Moga Punjab at Little India or simply at one of dozens of economy rice shops found everywhere.

Steaming hot rice with chicken curry

With so much to choose from I discovered another outlet where their LITTLE extra is their desert of nyonya kueh.

O’Day’s at 21 Lorong Cecil Rae,Canning Garden serves the usual fare of nasi lemak, kunyit rice and chicken curry and asam laksa all very tasty.

However it is their nyonya kueh talam, pulut kaya or sambal udang on offer that has tempted me, twice so far, to want to have a light lunch meal there.

Served in small slices somehow the old style nyonya kueh desert always gives that satisfying end to a meal.

Red bean, pulut kaya or onde onde O'Days has a good variety

Their onde onde wasn’t sweet enough (I like it when you bite into the gluey dough and the sweet gula Malacca squishes to coat your taste buds) though their pulut offerings was satisfying.

Nostalgic, Ubi Kayu Inti.

It was their Ubi Kayu Inti that brought 

back nostalgic memories when I used to have homemade ubi kayu but topped with sweet grated coconut.

A light meal but which offers a satisfying ending will always be an attraction to want to return to O’Day’s to make my day.

JAG 

Call Your Councilor To Solve Council Issues.

Menglembu Councilor Leong Chee Wai at Ipoh Cith Council's full board meeting.

Newly elected councilor of Zone 17 (Menglembu / Falim), Leong Chee Wai (pix) has praised the staff of Ipoh City Council for resolving 80% of the complaints he received since being elected councilor two months earlier.

Leong who was elected in September sang his praise at the Council’s monthly Full Board Meeting held on November 1.

“In the two months since I took office I have received over 50 complaints for my zone.

“There were thirty in September and the rest in October and I am happy to report that 80% have been remedied.

“In my opinion the council staff have worked hard as most of the complaints were acted on within 2 to 3 days after reporting to the council” said Leong

Leong added that most of the complaints received for his zone referred to no street lighting in town and housing estates, clogged drains and roads that needed resurfacing.

Regarding the issue of road resurfacing the complainants said the later road phases were often resurfaced but the 1^st phase, some dating back 20 years which was in bad condition, was not improved upon.

JAG